Greenpoint G Tube Closure This Weekend

July 03rd, 2013

Starting this weekend (July 6-8), work crews will begin making extensive repairs to the Greenpoint Tube as MTA New York City Transit launches the Fix & Fortify initiative to repair and strengthen portions of the system damaged in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. This project will be conducted over 12 weekend shutdowns through the end of 2013, requiring riders to use alternate routes, including a special shuttle bus service.

The Line’s Greenpoint Tube links Long Island City in Queens with the Greenpoint section of Brooklyn and it was one of nine under river subway tubes flooded during Sandy, the most destructive storm to ever hit the New York City subway system. The tube was slammed with three million gallons of salt water at the height of the storm, leaving tracks submerged and the tunnel’s pump controls, electrical, communications, fan control and signal equipment seriously damaged.

Immersed in salt water, power cables are corroding from the inside, while corrosion on the outside of rails and fasteners increases the potential for short circuits which can result in signal problems. The controls for ventilation, lighting and communication systems were destroyed and have not been restored to their pre-Sandy condition. With reliability of some components declining, they must be replaced before they become a safety issue.

During the weeks after Sandy, temporary repairs were made to the Greenpoint Tube which allowed Train service to resume. Components were cleaned, inspected and approved for service, but given the extent of the damage, their useful lifespan was significantly shortened and their operation degraded, leading to an increased number of failures and delays for customers.

“Work to the Greenpoint Tube cannot be put off. This is work that must begin now. While our customers will suffer some inconvenience, the payoff will be completion of this necessary work in the shortest time possible,” said New York City Transit Acting President Carmen Bianco. “In the meantime, we will be providing shuttle bus services during these weekend closures.”

The northernmost three stops, Greenpoint Av, 21 St, and Court Square will be closed during these weekends, with service replaced by two shuttle bus routes linking the closed stops with the Nassau Av station (via Manhattan Avenue) and with the Lorimer St station (via McGuinness Blvd.). During the affected weekends, the shuttle buses will run during all hours the subway is closed. All day Saturday and Sunday afternoon, buses run every four minutes via Manhattan Avenue and every eight minutes via McGuinness Boulevard, for a combined service of every 2 ½-3 minutes. Most other hours, shuttle buses will run every five minutes via Manhattan Avenue and every ten minutes via McGuinness Boulevard. During midnight hours, the shuttles will run every 10 minutes on both routes.

The weekend closures will run from 12:01 a.m., Saturday through 5 a.m., Monday. trains will run between Nassau Av and Church Av only.

The 12 weekend closures are not consecutive and subject to change:

1. July 6-8

2. July 13-15

3. July 20-22

4. Aug 3-5

5. Aug 10-12

6. Aug 17-19

7. Aug 24-26

8. Sept 7-9

9. Sept 28-30

10. Oct 5-7

11. Dec 7-9

12. Dec 14-16

Customers can stay informed by looking for special station posters, subscribing to our free email and text alerts (always a good idea) and calling 511 and saying "Current Service Status." Also, for updates, click here.